An eclectic group, Tasha noted as Jared ordered orange juice and took champagne from a proffered tray.
At seven-thirty the ballroom doors opened to allow the guests an opportunity to view the various items on display.
Security was tight, and Jared remained at her side as she headed towards the porcelain exhibits. Exquisite, delicately hand-painted pieces, some she recognised, with others she referred to the catalogue. There were crystal pieces, Baccarat and Lalique, figurines.
‘See anything you particularly like?’
‘It might be easier to state the ones that don’t appeal.’ Tasha turned towards him. ‘Is there anything you’d like to view?’
Art was his preference, and it came as no surprise that he’d marked the catalogue in advance.
The Haight-Smythes were fellow guests, and they paused to exchange a few pleasantries before moving on. There would be time at the auction’s conclusion to mix and mingle.
‘Jared, I thought you’d attend tonight’s soirée.’
Tasha turned slowly, met Soleil’s deliberately musing gaze, recognised Soleil’s father, and forced a polite greeting. She even managed what she hoped was a warm smile.
‘We’ll catch you later. Father wants to examine the jewellery.’
Had Jared known Soleil would be here tonight?
‘No,’ Jared said quietly, reading her mind.
Running into Soleil on every social occasion was becoming tiresome.
‘I agree.’
‘You possess telepathic capabilities?’
His smile reached down and plucked her heartstrings. ‘You’re an easy read.’
‘Oh, great.’
‘It has certain advantages.’
‘Such as?’
He ran a finger lightly over her lower lip. ‘It’s kept me sane.’
‘I see.’
‘I’m not sure you do.’
It was as well the charity chairman took the podium and gave an inspiring speech before introducing the auctioneer, who announced the basic rules of auction, indicated the first item, then declared the bidding would begin.
It was an intriguing few hours, with a minimum number of items passed in for failing to meet the set reserve, and the money raised by evening’s end surpassed even the charity chairman’s wildest expectations.
Tasha hadn’t bid, but Jared did, securing a magnificent oil painting, an exquisite Lladro porcelain, and a Lalique crystal sculpture.
When financial details had been settled, guests were invited into the foyer, where champagne was offered, together with canapés, petit fours, together with coffee and tea.
It was there Soleil and her father sought Jared out, and Soleil was so incredibly sweet it almost made Tasha sick.
Was she trying to impress Jared or her father…or both? Whatever, she was a consummate actress. So much so, Tasha found it almost impossible not to respond in kind.
‘It would appear we share a similar taste in social activities,’ Tasha noted, and saw Soleil’s eyes narrow.
‘Brisbane’s social élite frequently attend the same functions.’ A light, amused laugh escaped her perfectly painted mouth. ‘Let’s face it, this is hardly New York.’
‘I have a feeling that, even if it were, you’d still manage to hunt down your prey.’
‘Oh, nasty, darling. But I’m glad you recognise my intention.’ She took a moment to examine her nails before fixing Tasha with a veiled look. ‘It makes it so much easier.’
‘Do you think so?’
‘Definitely.’
At that moment Jared took hold of her hand and lifted it to his lips. ‘Ready, darling?’
‘Definitely,’ Tasha copied, and inclined her head towards Soleil, then her father. ‘Goodnight.’ She almost added ‘It’s been a pleasure’, but decided against it. Fabrication wasn’t her forte.
‘Would you care to explain what that was all about?’ Jared queried as they threaded their way towards the lift.
‘Not really.’
‘Soleil is—’
‘Very good at her job,’ Tasha finished as they stepped into the lift.
‘Over-zealous when it comes to pursuit of men.’ He punched the button that would take them down to the lobby.
‘Ah, you noticed.’
They reached their destination, and Jared strolled towards the concierge, who promptly arranged for his car to be brought up from parking.
‘It’s an integral part of my nature.’
The Jaguar slid into sight, and the porter opened the passenger door, saw her seated, then discreetly accepted his tip.
‘I’m impressed,’ Tasha declared, and caught the faint cynical twist to his answering smile.
‘A compliment, Tasha?’ He ignited the engine.
‘Perhaps,’ she conceded as he eased the car forward, gained the side-road, and began negotiating inner-city one-way traffic.
It didn’t take long to reach her apartment building, and she released the seat-belt and reached for the door-clasp as soon as he drew the car to a halt outside the main entrance.
‘It was an interesting evening. Thank you,’ Tasha added, wanting to escape, yet conversely wanting to stay.
There was a part of her that craved his mouth on hers, the intimacy of sensual contact. Except it wouldn’t be enough. She’d want more, much more, and therein lay the danger.
It would be so easy to invite him into her apartment. But if she did it could only have one ending, and, while the sex would be incredible, it wouldn’t solve or resolve anything.
‘Goodnight.’ Oh, lord, she had to get out of here before she said or did something foolish.
‘You forgot something,’ Jared said quietly.
He caught her startled gaze an instant before he captured her face between his hands, and kissed her. Thoroughly, with such shameless eroticism it became a total ravishment of the senses.
When he lifted his head she wasn’t capable of uttering a word, and he brushed his lips to hers in a gentle gesture.
‘If you don’t want me to share your bed tonight, I suggest you get out of the car now.’
His husky warning was all she needed, and she slid quickly from her seat, then stepped towards the entrance, decoded the inner door, and walked through to the banks of lifts without a backwards glance.
Jared drummed fingers against his desk and admitted he’d never felt so helpless in his life. Or afraid.
In a matter of days his personal world had turned upside-down. Moved from emotional contentment and satisfaction to a place he neither liked nor coveted.
The apartment seemed empty and horribly silent. There was no light, laughing voice to greet him, no eager arms reaching for him in the night. Dear heaven, no joy without the warmth of her sweet body curled close against his own.
His control was such he could focus in the courtroom. Out of it, he merely went through the motions. Work, he buried himself in it, putting in long hours in his chambers, taking work home to labour over late into the night.
There was a part of him that found it difficult to accept Tasha’s actions. Two years…and now suddenly it appeared as if those two years had evaporated in a puff of smoke.
Or had they?
Dammit, he’d asked her to marry him. Wasn’t that enough?
Apparently not.
At first, he’d been angry. Sure in his mind she wouldn’t go through with her plan to move out, and when she had, he’d been convinced it would last only a few days…a week at most.
She took his calls, answered his messages, and was so exceedingly polite it took strength of will not to shake her.
He wanted her back…in his arms, his apartment, his life. Dammit, he needed her.
Jared tugged fingers through his hair, ruffling its customary groomed look. He sank back in his chair and cast the neat pile of files on his desk a cursory glance, then he turned towards the plate-glass window and gazed contemplatively beyond the city-scape.
For days and far into the night he’d conside
red his options, presenting arguments for and against with each and every one, and had reluctantly come to the conclusion he was powerless to implement any of them.
He did, however, have an advantage in Tasha’s acquiescence to continue their social obligations together.
He picked up a pen and tapped it idly against the leather-bound blotter on his desk.
She didn’t seem averse to going out with him. He picked her up and dropped her back to her apartment. And she didn’t ask him in.
His gaze narrowed and a soft oath escaped his throat.
They’d regressed from live-in lovers to dating. It was ridiculous.
Yet with all his legal expertise, his ability to tie his opponents into verbal knots, he had little or no power with Tasha.
Except one. Call it chemistry, sexual compatibility, shared sensuality, passion…hell, call it love. Whatever, the mesmeric primeval emotion existent between them was an ecstasy he’d never experienced in this lifetime. And knew deep in his gut he never would with anyone else.
Was it the same for Tasha? The answer was an unequivocal yes. No woman was capable of losing control to the extent she did, or becoming so wild, so totally abandoned… There were times when he’d driven her so far, so high, she’d become incandescent in his arms. His, only his.
Yet it was more than sex. Much more. She was his light, his heart, the very air he breathed. His reason for being.
He was damned if he’d lose her. Reduced to being a father by remote control, allowed visiting rights…and seeing another man take his place in her bed.
His hand clenched at the mere thought, and he barely controlled an animalistic snarl as the phone buzzed on his desk.
‘There’s a delivery for you in Reception.’
Tasha put a marker on the file she was accessing. ‘I’ll be right out.’
It was a boxed something, she saw at once, and she met Amanda’s interested expression as she signed for it. ‘Thanks.’
‘You do intend opening it before you take it home?’
‘I’ll buzz you when I do.’
‘Ah, hoped you might.’
‘You can bring the McCormick file in at the same time.’
‘Shall do.’ One of the many incoming lines beeped, requiring Amanda’s attention, and Tasha returned to her office.
There was a card tucked into the wrapping, and she plucked it out, opened and read the words, ‘Thought this would suit your office. Jared.’
He hadn’t, had he? Her fingers removed the Sellotape, the wrapping, polystyrene chips providing protective packaging for the exquisite Lladro figurine Jared had successfully bid for at auction on Tuesday night.
She touched it reverently, admiring the perfection, and carefully placed it on the mahogany credenza.
Tasha reached for her cell-phone, keyed in a text message, and sent it to him.
There was a tap on her door, and Amanda entered with the requested file.
‘What do you think?’ She indicated the figurine, and glimpsed the receptionist’s admiration.
‘It’s gorgeous. Jared, of course.’ Amanda placed the file down on the desk, then indicated the box and wrapping. ‘Want me to take these for you?’
‘Thanks.’
Tasha rang him soon after reaching her apartment, and he picked up on the fifth ring.
‘Thank you,’ she said with genuine sincerity. ‘It’s beautiful.’
‘My pleasure. I enjoy gifting you things.’
A double entendre, if ever there was one. Tasha controlled the quivery sensation invading her body at the husky, almost sensuous tone in his voice.
‘I intended calling you tonight,’ Jared continued. ‘You haven’t forgotten we have tickets for the show at Conrad-Jupiter’s Casino?’
Tasha closed her eyes, then opened them again. It had temporarily slipped her mind. Excusable, given events of the past week.
Dammit, she really wanted to see the spectacular extravaganza, had been excited when it was first advertised, delighted when Jared suggested they combine the show with a weekend at the Gold Coast. He owned an apartment in an exclusive block with beach access at Main Beach, and she adored the time they spent there.
She should refuse. ‘I’d prefer not to stay over.’ It was capitulation with conditions, and didn’t fool him in the slightest.
‘The apartment has two bedrooms.’
And that was meant to be reassurance? ‘Jared—’
‘Be ready at midday, Tasha.’
He ended the call before she had a chance to voice a qualifying refusal.
CHAPTER EIGHT
IT WAS insane to consider spending a weekend on the Coast with Jared. So why was she seated in the passenger seat of his car listening idly to music emitting from his CD player while attempting to focus on the passing scenery as they travelled the M1?
No matter how she justified wanting to see the live show featured at the Coast’s casino, nothing changed the fact she was dicing with danger in agreeing to share his apartment overnight.
More than once she’d picked up her cell-phone to ring and cancel, only to put it off until later. Except later somehow never eventuated, as every time she started to dial his number she became angry with herself for wimping out.
She needed to prove she could resist him on every level, except that of friend. They had a future together by virtue of the child she was carrying. A friendship based on affection was better than one with acrimonious undertones.
She could play friend, and she would, even if it nearly killed her!
‘It’s a beautiful day.’ Had she actually spoken those words? They sounded so banal, so…dammit, like excruciatingly polite conversation. Crazy, when she’d shared every intimacy imaginable with this man.
Just thinking about intimacy brought forth visions she didn’t want to consider right now. Or any other time, she assured silently. That part of their relationship was over.
She adored the Gold Coast, with its shopping complexes, theme parks, waterways. All the advantages of a city without the many disadvantages. Essentially a tourist Mecca, it had a holiday atmosphere all year round.
That first glimpse of the tall high-rise buildings dotting the curved foreshore and the sparkling blue waters of the broadwater held a magic all its own.
Jared took the Main Beach turn-off and minutes later eased the Jaguar down into an underground carpark.
‘We’ll offload our overnight bags, then wander through to Tedder Avenue for lunch.’
‘Sounds good to me,’ she offered lightly as they made their way to the lift.
Tedder Avenue was a trendy area where several of the social élite chose to catch up with friends over a meal or any one of several types of coffee. For some it was brunch at Bahia, a series of lattes at Mustang Sally, then home to spend a few hours getting ready to hit one of the top restaurants in town.
Not a life Tasha would willingly choose on a permanent basis, but to indulge over a weekend offered light-hearted enjoyment.
Jared’s apartment had a wealth of floor-to-ceiling glass, open-plan living with luxurious furnishings and fittings in muted colours.
A great place to relax and unwind, Tasha accorded as she took her overnight bag into the spare bedroom and quickly extracted the outfit she intended to wear that evening and placed it on a hanger, then she caught up her shoulder bag and went out to the lounge.
Jared was standing observing the view, and he turned as she entered the room.
She was unprepared for the curling sensation deep inside, or the way her pulse seemed to pick up and race to a thudding beat.
He had it all, she perceived. The height and physique most men would envy. Sculptured bone structure and facial features made for a rugged attractiveness. Add innate sensuality, and it became one hell of a package.
Yet there was a depth to him, a development of character that included intelligence and sophisticated charm. Existent also was something indefinable, hidden deep beneath the surface. A ruthless, primitive element t
hat boded ill for any adversary, almost lethal. A man you’d covet as friend and ally, and run far and fast if he ever became an enemy.
‘Ready?’
‘Yes. Let’s go find some food.’ The need to eat little and often had manifested itself over the past week, and although there were no visible physical changes to her body as yet, there were a few differences she’d begun to notice.
A five-minute walk brought them into the heart of Tedder Avenue, where they selected a café, chose a table and perused the menu.
‘Is there anything you’d particularly like to do this afternoon?’ Jared queried when they’d given their order.
A host of choices presented itself, yet she veered towards the simplistic. ‘A walk along the beach, a swim.’
‘No trawling the boutiques?’ Jared drawled.
‘There’s nothing I need.’ With one exception, and it couldn’t be bought.
It was after three when they finished their meal, and they wandered towards the beach, then followed the sandy foreshore towards the Sheraton Mirage Hotel, where they entered the lounge bar and had a cool drink before taking the footbridge across the road to the adjacent shopping complex.
Around five they strolled back to the apartment, showered and changed ready to dine and take in the show.
Tasha had chosen to wear a black, figure-hugging dress that owed everything to its cut and design. Diamond ear-studs, a diamond pendant on a slender gold chain comprised her only jewellery, and she took care with her make-up, swept her hair into a carefree knot, teased a few tendrils free to curl at her ears, then she slid her feet into stiletto pumps and caught up an evening purse.
Jared surprised her by heading towards the Spit, and eased the car into the entrance of the Palazzo Versace Hotel.
Upmarket, six-star and exclusive.
The concierge came forward, offered valet parking, and swiftly opened the passenger door.
Jared cast her a level glance as they entered the luxurious foyer. ‘This numbers high among your favourite places.’
‘Yes, it does.’ She remembered the first time he’d brought her here soon after the Palazzo’s official opening. Her appreciative enthusiasm for the elegant interior with its marble floors and pillars, the internal beach-pool, exquisite lighting, and the view across the broadwater encompassing the sweep of high-rise apartment buildings lining the curved foreshore.
The Pregnancy Proposal Page 9
